Why has there been little to no research on baculoviruses expression of recombinant AcMNPV in larvae if its commonly known that larvae are more efficient and cost effective than cell lines?
Hi Sarah, I guess because the further purification of the recombinant protein can be much more complicated and easily degradated by 'millions' of proteases around. If you need more information, I know a Spanish biotech company, Algenex, that produces routinely recombinant proteins by using larvae: http://www.algenex.com/
Insect cell culture is a lot easier, if I want to stop I just make sure my liquid N2 stocks are good. Insects have to be raised and cared for and growth has to be timed. If something goes wrong with my cell culture and or protein expression I can be ready in 3-5 days to try again.
Thank you to both of you for your answers. I wonder then why B. mori has been so successful as a silkworm expression system if both of you consider cell lines more efficient? Thank you, Jorge, for the link I'm going to have a look now and ask why they've chosen larvae over cell lines.